Alban Bunjaku Explained

Alban Bunjaku
Birth Date:20 May 1994
Birth Place:Romford, England
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthclubs1:Eastbrook
Youthyears2:–2002
Youthclubs2:Ascot United
Youthyears3:2002–2012
Youthclubs3:Arsenal
Years1:2012–2014
Clubs1:Sevilla Atlético
Caps1:10
Goals1:1
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:Slavia Prague B (loan)
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:2014–2016
Clubs3:Derby County
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2016
Clubs4:Dordrecht
Caps4:9
Goals4:2
Totalcaps:21
Totalgoals:3
Nationalyears1:2014
Nationalteam1:Kosovo
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:6 June 2016
Nationalteam-Update:05:15, 25 March 2020 (UTC)

Alban Bunjaku (born 20 May 1994) is a professional footballer who last played as an attacking midfielder for Dutch club Dordrecht. Born in England, he represented Kosovo at international level.

Club career

Early career

Born in London, Bunjaku joined the Arsenal F.C. Academy in 2002, at the age of eight.[1]

Sevilla

After scoring fifteen goals in twenty-three starts for the under-18 side, Bunjaku left Arsenal to sign for La Liga club Sevilla.[2] He spent the 2012–13 season with the club's reserve side, Sevilla Atlético, in the Segunda División B.[3] He made his debut on 14 October 2012 in the 8th game week against Cartagena, coming on as a substitute in the 89th minute in place of Álex Rubio. The match finished in a 2–2 draw.[4] He scored first goal on 4 November 2012 in the 11th game week against Melilla and gave Sevilla Atlético the 0–1 away victory when he scored in the 53rd minute, but was replaced only 12 minutes later by Joaquín García.[5]

Derby County

On 10 June 2014, it was announced that Bunjaku had returned to England to sign a two-year contract with Championship side Derby County.[3] [6] Head coach Steve McClaren said that Bunjaku had potential to do well at Derby, given his experience gained from a decade with Arsenal and also from his short time at Sevilla Atlético.[7]

After spending time mainly with the under-21 side, Bunjaku left the club months before the end of his contract by mutual consent.[8]

Dordrecht

On 18 January 2016, shortly after leaving Derby County, Bunjaku signed with Dordrecht of the Eerste Divisie.[9] He made his debut for the club on the same day in a league match against Emmen. He came on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Ibrahim Touré as Dordrecht lost the match 2–0.[10]

International career

In January 2012, the media reported that the Albanian Football Association were trying to convince the player to be part of their national team, since the English Football Association had not made him any invitation to play in the England national side.[11] He was called up to represent Albania under-19, after the English youth team overlooked him.[12]

In May 2014, Bunjaku was called up to the Kosovo national football team for the friendly matches against Turkey and Senegal.[13] On 21 May 2014, Bunjaku made his international debut for Kosovo against Turkey, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute in place of Lum Rexhepi in a 1–6 loss at the Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium, Mitrovica, Kosovo.[8] [14]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sevilla Atlético2012–13Segunda División B10100--101
Total1010000101
Slavia Prague B 2013–14Czech Fourth Division--
Total
Derby CountyFootball League Championship0000--00
Total00000000
Dordrecht2015–16Eerste Divisie92000092
Total92000092
Career total1930000193

International

[15]

Kosovo national team
YearAppsGoals
201420
Total20

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sevilla sign English-born Arsenal starlet. Inside Spanish Football. 28 June 2012. 27 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160409103750/http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/14698/sevilla-sign-english-born-arsenal-starlet/. 9 April 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: The story of Arsenal's former protege, 18-year-old Romford-born Alban Bunjaku . www.hitc.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150629223231/http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2012/10/23/the-story-of-arsenals-former-protege-18-year-old-romford-born/ . 2015-06-29.
  3. News: Derby sign former Arsenal midfielder Alban Bunjaku on a free transfer. 11 March 2016. SKY Sports. 10 June 2014.
  4. Web site: Sevilla II vs. Cartagena. 14 October 2012. Soccerway.com.
  5. Web site: Melilla vs. Sevilla II. 4 November 2012. Soccerway.com.
  6. Web site: Derby sign former Arsenal midfielder Alban Bunjaku on a free transfer. Sky Sports.com.
  7. Web site: Derby County hoping to unlock potential of former Arsenal midfielder Alban Bunjaku . Derby Telegraph . Chris . Watson . https://web.archive.org/web/20160830201604/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/derby-county-hoping-unlock-potential-arsenal/story-21212821-detail/story.html . 2016-08-30 . 11 June 2014 . 30 November 2019 .
  8. News: Midfielder Alban Bunjaku leaves Rams. 11 March 2016. BBC Sport. 15 January 2016.
  9. News: Alban Bunjaku naar FC Dordrecht. 11 March 2016. FC Dordrecht. 18 January 2016.
  10. Web site: FC Dordrecht 0-2 FC Emmen. Soccerway.
  11. http://supersport.al/m/artikull.php?id=1896 Talenti mes Shqiperise dhe Anglise | | Futboll |
  12. Web site: The story of Arsenal's former protege, 18-year-old Romford-born Alban Bunjaku . 27 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200123050001/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2012/10/23/the-story-of-arsenals-former-protege-18-year-old-romford-born/ . 23 January 2020 . dead .
  13. http://www.panorama-sport.com/lajme-flash/dy-miqesoret-bunjaku-shpall-listen-e-kosoves/ Dy miqësoret, Bunjaku shpall listën e Kosovës
  14. http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=1483 Kosovo national team v Turkey*, 21 May 2014
  15. http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=28595 Alban Bunjaku - national football team player